Discipleship to a T

My son, Graysen, turned 1 in February. Two weeks ago he finally decided life on the feet was better than life on the knees. He is very different than his sister, Garin, who is about to turn 7. He is 100% little boy - he explores everything, he climbs everything and he has a little temper. While the differences produce their own set of challenges, I thought to myself this morning as I watched him eat his toast and eggs for breakfast, "I am really glad that God blessed us with one of each." I have many reasons, but tonight, one stands out more than others.

When Garin was little she would always play "family" with the condiments on the table at any given restaurant. She was perfectly content to sit and play the entire time Rhonda and I were on a date. She seemed to be wired for that sort of game. She is a nurturer.

Graysen, on the other hand seems to live differently. He just wants to eat the condiments and throw the salt and pepper shakers. He hates the high-chair and just wants to go. He is an adventurer.

Now, I'm no doctor and I don't know the details of DNA predisposition. I'm a pastor, and I have learned a thing or two about discipleship, though. What I have seen in my kids is the uncanny ability to be disciples. First it was Garin, demonstrating the very skills that she watched her mother perform every day of her life. Now it's Graysen, doing the same with me. I have a home office and in the office is a desk for me and a desk for the kids. My computer is on the desk and their computer is on their desk. Garin gets the most out of it, but yesterday Graysen made his way back to the office and pushed open the door. He then pushed the door closed behind him and proceeded to go to his desk. He worked his way up into the chair and started "working." I could see him peaking over the monitor to see what I was doing and he would do the same thing. I love it!

You and I were created with a predisposition to copy our Heavenly Father also. It's the most natural thing we can do. However, we fight against it...all the time. When we don't act like Jesus, we are doing something contrary to the way we were created. We were created in His image and with that comes a certain leaning toward follow-ship. There will come a day when the similarities between Graysen and me diminish, only to return as the years past. I am right now trying to recapture my desire to copy my Father. How would He want me to respond to the big issues in life - being a husband, being a father, consumerism, the environment, war, disease, work, etc. I ask a ton of questions and am slowly finding some answers. Part of what I hope this blog can be is a place to wrestle and join others in some meaningful discussion.